Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

Before she left, Su Chen, knowing she was on the Water Element path and leaning toward a support role, gave her the synthesis formula for the Rainfall Rune.

He then gave her a Water Element Rune from his bag.

A Lv3 Rune with a Water-Dark-Dark composition and unknown effects.

Since it was just sitting unused, he figured he might as well give it to her.

Xue Yao initially refused, but when she heard his humblebrag about his backpack being nearly full, she couldn’t help but laugh and accepted it.

After seeing her off to the Jiangnan Team, Su Chen returned to his parking spot. Once he confirmed that everything was safe and his RV was undamaged, he immediately headed back to the conference hall. Besides wanting to trade, he also wanted to check on the situation at the rear of the base.

Being such a densely populated area, there was a good chance some Parasite Bodies were lurking around.

”Boss.”

The moment he appeared, the shrewd broker Yuan Haotian showed up again, this time with a scarf covering his nose and mouth.

It wasn’t a fashion statement; many people around were wearing masks to prevent infection from airborne spores.

Some had also discovered that the Parasite Bodies wouldn’t approach the braziers, likely because the intense heat was extremely uncomfortable for the fungus. As word spread, the entire conference hall practically became a giant furnace, with braziers arranged around it like a defensive formation.

”You’ve been here this whole time? Haven’t you been out killing monsters?” Su Chen asked, curious.

After the transformation of his Perception, and with the aid of his Strong Will, he could more or less sense the elemental residue on people.

This muscular man’s body radiated a strong Fire Element fluctuation, theoretically similar to a defensive Fire Shield Rune.

”Of course I have. Right now, I’m just waiting for people to turn,” Yuan Haotian said, his personality a bit devil-may-care as his eyes swept over the crowd.

While others hunted monsters, he waited for people to become them. It was, in its own way, a strategy.

”Oh, right, Boss.”

Yuan Haotian’s face lit up as he said excitedly, ”The Holy Radiance you wanted is available. They only came forward after hearing someone had a Spirit Element Lv3 Rune. But I gotta say, the three of them look like they’re not to be trifled with.”

Su Chen paid it no mind and just told him to lead the way.

Interestingly, there was an indirect connection to the sellers.

After they passed through a corridor, they saw the three people.

”Well, look who’s here.”

”We meet again, handsome.” Lin Wanqing leaned against the metal doorframe, the familiar smile on her lips.

At the same time, the two people beside her gave the young man a meaningful glance.

One was tall and thin with a stern, square face. The other was as burly as a bear, wearing a trench coat and looking extremely serious.

These two were the Judge and the Executioner of the law enforcement squad. One was responsible for reading the regulations and passing judgment, while the other acted as the headsman who carried out the sentence. The process concluded when a medical examiner performed an autopsy and issued a death report, completing the full death penalty procedure of this new apocalypse.

”Well, what a coincidence. It looks like you’re the one with the Spirit Element Lv3 Rune,” Lin Wanqing said with a smile. She recognized the broker, and judging by his power, this handsome young man was indeed the real deal. His strong Telekinesis fluctuations clearly belonged to the Spirit Element as well.

’Wait a minute...’ She thought back to the hidden bounty building he had mentioned. ’Could it be that these are all limited rewards he got from there?’

”I have a Holy Radiance Lv4 Rune,” the powerfully built man with the resolute face asked. ”If you’re willing to trade your Spiritual Detection Lv3 Rune, what do you propose?”

”I’ll add one Lv3 Rune on top,” Su Chen answered directly.

Theoretically, it took two Lv3 Runes plus a helping of Spiritual Dust Sand to trade for one Lv4 Rune. But even though the other party had a rare Light Element Holy Radiance Rune, the Spiritual Detection Rune in his own hands was even rarer.

With their values canceling each other out, Su Chen believed he was the one with ample room to negotiate.

”How about just adding a portion of Spiritual Dust Sand?” the man asked tentatively.

”No,” Su Chen refused.

’He was short on these kinds of spiritual upgrade materials himself; there was no way he’d trade them away.’

The scene fell silent for a moment. The man was tall and imposing, but he was clearly a man of few words and not much of a negotiator. His principles also prevented him from using his power to intimidate, so he glanced toward Lin Wanqing for help.

She, however, pretended not to notice, humming a little tune while admiring her fingernails.

”Deal,” the man sighed. He had no intention of haggling like a street vendor and pulled a small bottle from his backpack.

Seeing this, Su Chen calmly used his Telekinesis to levitate several small bottles from his canvas bag. In addition to the main prize, he presented several Lv3 Runes of various Elements for the man to choose from.

His actions left them stunned. It wasn’t just the display of invisible manipulation; the sheer number of Runes he possessed was also far beyond what they’d expected. And these were just his spare Lv3 Runes—he probably had a pile of others at different levels.

No wonder Lin Wanqing had tried to recruit him. This young man’s power was not to be underestimated.

”The Thunder Element one,” the formidable man said, picking a bottle.

Once the trade was complete, neither party held back. They both absorbed their new acquisitions on the spot to verify them.

’Aside from Ice Element, the final piece of the puzzle is now in place.’

Su Chen silently watched the Light Element essence dissolve into his palm. In a few moments, his spirit began to tremble as a brilliant radiance flared to life.

[Holy Radiance] (Lv4): The Spellcaster can infuse an additional Elemental Rune into Holy Radiance, causing all attacks to deal an additional 160% holy damage while also stacking all the properties of the infused Elemental Rune.